In order to maintain a healthy, cavity-free smile along with aromatic breath, brushing one’s teeth is absolutely paramount. However, mistakes are inevitable, the most common of which is falling asleep without brushing at all. Yet, many still wonder whether this event is ultimately detrimental to their overall oral hygiene. To help call attention to this problem and simultaneously provide some suggestions on how to avoid it, here is a brief list delineating whether it is bad to fall asleep without brushing your teeth.

The Gist

Eating is not only a way to fill our bodies with necessary nutrients, it is also carries the unintended consequence of providing the bacteria in our moths with the food they need to survive. The problem is that when these bacteria defecate, they do so all over our teeth. Their waste is very acidic and can severely damage tooth enamel, resulting in cavities and tooth decay.

Going to bed without brushing is a surefire way to allow plaque to calcify all over our teeth. Unfortunately, the only means of removing agglomerated plaque is with a dental cleaning. If this sounds similar to your situation, you may want to see your dentist immediately. Excessive plaque buildup puts your body on the defense, causing your gums to become inflamed. As a result, the body begins attacking the tissues that maintain the structural integrity of our teeth, resulting in peeling gums and eventual periodontitis.

Inflammation Be Gone!

Inflammation can cause excessive damage, with some studies associating long term inflammation with unfortunate conditions such as hearing loss, dementia, and heart disease. The likelihood of these unfortunate effects occurring is heightened when one habitually neglects to brush their teeth or visit a dentist.

What To Do

One great method of preventing forgetfulness is to keep a toothbrush by your bedside so that you can brush in bed if need be. But what about toothpaste and spitting? Well, the great thing about this method is that it doesn’t require toothpaste, as long as the forgetting is not excessive. Just gently brush your teeth then soak your toothbrush in some sanitizer. This can also be done with floss. Another effective method is to get in the habit of checking your teeth with your tongue. Are they smooth or rough? The latter indicates plaque buildup, so if this is the case you should know to brush immediately, even if it means getting out of bed. Your body will thank you in the long run.

The simple answer is yes, but you probably want to know why. After all, what’s so bad about people sharing a toothbrush now and again? Sure, it’s kind of gross, but if you’re intimate with someone, you already share all kinds of germs via kissing, holding hands, sharing food off your plates, and engaging in other romantic activities. What’s the big deal about sharing a toothbrush?

The problem, in essence, is that there’s no barrier against germs when you decide to share a toothbrush. For other activities you can employ a level of protection. You can avoid kissing when your partner has a cold. You can wash your hands frequently. When you use another person’s toothbrush, however, all of their mouth bacteria are now your bacteria. So what? What’s so wrong about swapping a little spit? Here’s what you need to know about the possible dangers of sharing a toothbrush.

Sharing Harmful Bacteria

Forget about the fact that you can get colds, flus, and strep throat from sharing a toothbrush – this can happen from sharing air in an enclosed space. What about bacteria that are found in the mouth, though? Even kissing might not transfer bacteria if you both keep your mouths relatively clean.

However, the bacteria in a person’s mouth can definitely cling to the bristles of a toothbrush and be transferred to another mouth. Consider for a moment that bacteria are responsible for oral health issues like tooth decay and periodontal diseases. The causative bacteria are fairly contagious, and if one person using a toothbrush has them, the other person using the toothbrush is going to get them.

You probably never thought you could get a cavity or periodontitis from sharing a toothbrush, but it could happen. This is just one good reason to spend a couple bucks to get your own toothbrush to leave at your partner’s place, or at least pack a travel toothbrush in your purse or pocket.

Sharing Blood

Even if you maintain good oral health, it’s possible to brush too hard and cause bleeding, especially when working with an unfamiliar toothbrush. When blood is involved, there’s a possibility that bloodborne pathogens can be transmitted, including diseases like hepatitis or HIV. This isn’t to say that you’re definitely going to catch something from sharing a toothbrush, but it is a possibility, and one that you can easily avoid simply by using your own toothbrush. If you just can’t go without brushing, plan ahead and make sure you have your own toothbrush handy for such scenarios.

Just because you’re an expert kisser doesn’t mean your mouth is open for business. If you’re suffering from oral health issues, you might not feel like exposing others to your problems and risking rejection due to bad breath or other issues. What can you do to fix the situation and make your mouth extra kissable? Here are a few strategies to try.

1. Brush up on brushing

You’ve probably practiced the same oral hygiene routine since you were four years old, or more likely, you’ve dropped off on your diligence. If your brushing is lackluster and you rarely bother to floss or rinse, it’s time for a refresher course in freshening up your mouth.

You might be understandably embarrassed to ask your dentist, but this professional is an expert and naturally wants you to have the best information for at-home care. Relearning how to brush, floss, and rinse at any age will only help you to keep your mouth clean and healthy, not to mention even more kissable.

2. Go for a deep clean

If you haven’t been to the dentist in a while, first of all, what were you thinking? You need to start scheduling regular visits for check-up, cleaning, and x-rays to ensure the best possible oral health and stave off issues like tooth decay and gum disease that are basically kiss-repellant.

That said, you might also want to set an appointment for deep cleaning to undo any damage caused by infrequent care and get your mouth as squeaky clean as possible in preparation for some smooching.

3. Consider cosmetic upgrades

Some people don’t care if you have yellow teeth, a snaggletooth, a gap, or misaligned teeth or jaws. However, it could impact your confidence and your willingness to lean in for a smooch. If you’re not happy with your smile, it will show, so take the time to talk to your dentist about the possibility of cosmetic fixes like tooth whitening, orthodontic braces, Invisalign, veneers, implants, and so on. Your confidence and your kissing game could both get a major boost as a result.

4. Don’t neglect soft tissue

A beautiful smile is one thing, but a kissable mouth is about more than just flashing your pearly whites from a distance. When you’re getting up close and personal, you want everything to smell and feel nice.

Brushing your teeth isn’t enough. You also need to address the soft tissue in your mouth, which means brushing your tongue and even your cheeks, and keeping your gums in ship shape with flossing and rinsing. Don’t forget to keep those lips buffed and hydrated for supreme kissability

We all love to enjoy the occasional cookie, piece of cake, or ice cream cone. But there are those who consume more than their fair share of sugary sweets and drinks and satisfying that sweet tooth on a regular basis can have some dire consequences for the rest of your teeth in the form of tooth decay. Indulging your cravings with consistency doesn’t need to be detrimental to your oral health, not if you follow some of these helpful hints for preventing cavities after you’ve had your fill of sugar.

Routine Brushing

This one pretty much goes without saying, the more potentially damaging foods and drinks you eat, the more you should brush your teeth to minimize the effects. Unfortunately, our busy lifestyles don’t always permit such luxuries of time. So it’s a good idea to bring a portable or disposable toothbrush with you anywhere you go. That way you can take a few minutes to duck into the nearest bathroom and practice responsible dental hygiene even if your eating habits aren’t exactly the same.

Rinsing

Another way to rid your mouth of all that sticky, sugary residue is by rinsing on a regular schedule. You can choose a mouthwash that will freshen your breath and offer a fluoride component to strengthen your teeth, which will provide an extra layer of protection against damaging food and drink. If you don’t have access to a minty mouthwash you can always use clean, fresh water to swish around and remove any sugary particles that might be stuck in your teeth.

Healthier Options

Sugar might be nice but going sugar-free can still satisfy your craving and keep your teeth healthy. Sugary sweets and sodas can strip away enamel and many of these things also contain acids that might speed up the demineralization process. Luckily, there are also a number of different foods and snacks that can be just as tasty such as fruits, yogurts, and even sugar-free gum and drinks that are better for your teeth and for your well-being. Keeping these things around the house instead of their sugar-stuffed counterparts will go a long way to preventing cavities.

Your Toothbrush

If you have a proclivity for sugary foods, changing your toothbrush often can reduce the risk of developing tooth decay. The more you use the brush, the more likely you are to wear it out and a toothbrush head with frayed or bent bristles is not as effective at removing plaque build up and other residual matter from sugar-heavy snacks and sodas.

Porcelain veneers are slim porcelain shells designed to be laid over the front of the teeth to restore their natural appearance. The shells also perform functions of strength and stability in much the same way as your tooth enamel. Veneers are a common option for patients who wish to alter the color, size, and shape of their existing teeth. If you are considering having veneers applied to your teeth, here are all the steps that go into the procedure.

Evaluation

Before any work begins, your dentist needs to determine if you are a good candidate for veneers. That evaluation process includes a full dental examination and a discussion about the benefits and risks inherent to this option. The first thing you need to understand is that veneers are permanent. Once they are applied they cannot be taken out.

Shaping

The next step involves removing a small amount of the enamel from your teeth, typically no more than 1/16th of an inch. The dentist will then shape the tooth to fix any gaps that exist and clear away any decay.

Shade Selection

You and your dentist will pick the shade of your veneer, but while a white smile can be beautiful don’t pick something too white as it will look manufactured and your smile won’t appear natural. Most dental professionals suggest going no more than two to three shades lighter than your natural teeth.

Impressions

This step requires your dentist to make an impression of your teeth with either optical cameras or with a more old-school method involving impression putty. This is how your veneers will be built so that they fit your teeth properly.

Building the Veneer

Veneers are created and then they are sent to a lab for processing and finishing. Depending on the equipment and capabilities of your dental office, the veneers will either be completed on the premises or your dentist will have them shipped out to a lab where it could take two to three weeks until they are ready for application. In the event you do have to wait, your dentist will typically place a temporary veneer until your permanent versions are ready.

Application

The day has arrived and your new veneers are ready to be attached. The dentist will first measure and compare the veneer to your teeth to ensure that they were properly processed and they will fit correctly. Then, the veneer is bonded to the teeth with a special bonding agent that keeps it firmly in place.

There are a variety of reasons why patients might be prescribed a night guard. It’s a mouthpiece that is fitted to the exact specifications of the mouth to combat the symptoms of TMJ, bruxism, and other dental problems. These mouthpieces are usually manufactured from hard or soft plastic and wearing one of them might require a short period of adjustment at first.

Since a night guard is meant to be worn at night, while you sleep, it can be a little jarring to go to bed with a foreign object inside of your mouth. But rest assured, you will quickly grow accustomed to wearing the device and the adjustment phase should be short. To help you manage during this time, here are a few tips to help you adjust to wearing your night guard.

Materials

You can request that your night guard be made of thinner materials so that the device doesn’t feel as thick and bulky inside of your mouth. That will make it easier to acclimate to as you wear it on a routine basis. If your dentist suggests you buy an over the counter version, you may have fewer options as to thickness and materials from which to choose.

Positioning of the Night Guard

Consult with your dentist about having a guard made for your lower teeth versus the upper. Though most night guards intended to stop bruxism or grinding of the teeth are fitted for the upper teeth, you may want to get a guard that goes on the lower teeth instead. Some patients find one more comfortable than the other and this could play a role in helping you find the one that’s right for you.

Nightly Wear

Placing the night guard in your mouth should be done prior to your bedtime. Putting it in before you get under the covers can give you time to get used to the feeling of the device so it won’t be as distracting to you once your head hits the pillow. When you do this is up to you but anywhere from five to fifteen minutes beforehand should do the trick.

Be Patient

Give it some time, you should get used to wearing your night guard through habitual wear. Most patients find wearing the mouthpiece second nature by thirty days’ time. But you must be diligent about wearing it every night to get fully comfortable with it. Using it periodically won’t be effective for solving your discomfort or your dental symptom for which it was prescribed.

We all have a few bad habits. But for those of you who tend to include your teeth in some of these ill-advised behaviors, the sooner you cease such actions, the better it will be for preserving your smile and preventing any undue wear and tear. These are five of the worst habits that could cause significant damage to your teeth and have you in the dentist’s chair sooner than you think.

1. Opening Things

A bag of chips, that package from the Post Office, your bottle of beer, how many of these things have you used your teeth to open? You might be surprised by how many people have done all of them and worse. Needless to say, when you’re using your teeth as a substitute for a scissors or a bottle-opener you risk cracking or breaking one or more of them every time.

2. Hazardous Drinking

Three of the worst things you could drink when it comes to your teeth are coffee, wine, and soda. All of them are dark colored and acidic enough to demineralize the enamel on your pearly whites. Coffee and soda might also contain enough sugar to make the damage worse. This goes for white wine and diet soda as well, these can also have a dramatic impact on decaying your teeth.

3. Bruxism

A fancy term for grinding your teeth at night. You probably don’t even realize you’re doing it until you wake up and feel pain or soreness in your jaw along with a slight headache. Clenching and grinding puts additional stress on the teeth, which can result in breaking, cracking, and chipping. There could be any number of reasons why you grind your teeth, so talk to your dentist about solutions to the problem.

4. Stop Smoking

Each one of those cigarettes you light up isn’t just doing your lungs a disservice, you’re also running the risk of staining your teeth, promoting gum disease, and let’s just say your breath won’t be so great either. You should drop this habit immediately by avoiding all tobacco products that can ruin your smile.

5. Foreign Objects

Pen caps, fingernails, pencil erasers, these and many other strange items find their way into our mouths, and when they do, they could prove damaging to the well-being of our teeth. You can add ice to the list of things you should avoid chomping down on from time to time.

Stress, while not much fun, is pretty much a part of life for everyone. It can come about for a myriad of reasons, work, relationships, money problems, worrying about things you probably don’t need to worry about, even depression and sadness can be substantial stressors that can contribute to high levels of anxiety. When you are under a lot of stress, things can fall by the wayside including your dental health. It’s more critical than ever to maintain good dental hygiene in order to counterbalance the potential damage caused by stress.

Routine brushing and flossing, rinsing, drinking a sufficient amount of water each day, and eating healthy are all of the ways to keep your mouth happy even if you are struggling with a lot of stress in your life. This is all very important because you can develop serious stress related dental issues if you let your anxiety get too overwhelming.

Teeth Grinding

It’s the number one dental issue caused almost exclusively by high stress levels. While it’s true that you typically do this while you sleep and you may not even know that it’s happening, your brain is still processing the influences that are stressing you out and it’s causing you to clench your jaw and grind your teeth back and forth as you snooze. This can fracture your teeth and knock your jaw out of alignment causing TMJ, which can be very painful. If you wake up with a headache instead of feeling well-rested and refreshed, you could be suffering from bruxism, the clinical term of teeth grinding.

Canker Sores

You’ve no doubt experienced these before, painful ulcers that develop on the gums and the lining of your mouth. You know you have one when you eat or drink something and feel that sharp sting that feels like it’s radiating through your skull. Some canker sores can get so big and deep that it takes weeks for them to heal. Canker sores can crop up for a variety of reasons but stress is believed to be one of the most prevalent.

Gum Disease

When we’re stressed we can let important routines of hygiene fall by the wayside. Maybe you don’t shower as often as you should or brush or floss your teeth every day. You might be too busy to remember or too depressed or sad to care. This can lead to gum diseases, if you allow bacteria to build up on your teeth and gums. The worse it gets, the more visible the signs of gum disease become as your gums can begin to bleed and your teeth can get loose. This is why it’s so critical to brush and floss even if you don’t feel like doing it or you’re too focused on other things.

Patients who have a full set of dentures in their mouth without any natural teeth left must maintain routine dental checkups. It’s important that dentures fit properly, otherwise the patient could experience pain and discomfort as well as issues with speaking and eating. That’s why every denture wearer must commit to visiting the dentist at least once a year to ensure that everything is still fitted in place and working properly.

Oral Health

Dentures only work properly if the gums and bone are healthy. So it’s crucial for long-time denture wearers to continue seeing the dentist to maintain a proper fit, which can be compromised due to changes in hard and soft tissue in the mouth. Many patients don’t even realize these changes have occurred and rely too heavily on their preferred adhesive to set the denture. But that could lead to discomfort and soreness, as the denture isn’t seated properly. The dentist can detect these changes early on and make the necessary adjustments.

Health Risks

When you visit the dentist annually, he or she will perform a routine examination to detect signs of oral cancer. Early detection is critical to treatment and should anything be identified as potentially cancerous, action can be taken accordingly. Bone density is also checked to ensure the material in your jaw is not disintegrating. Of course, if you have any remaining natural teeth, the dentist will monitor their health and well-being and give them a proper cleaning. At this point in time, it’s a good idea to bring up any other concerns you have so the dentist can diagnose any potential problems that might arise from these issues, before they become significant health risks.

Potential Problems

Though it’s a good idea to see a dentist at least once a year, that doesn’t mean denture wearers should wait until their annual checkup to address any problems they are experiencing. Pain or discomfort is reason engouh to make an appointment immediately so the dentist can figure out why the dentures are starting to hurt. There may be any number of factors contributing to the problem, a health problem could be emerging, there may be shrinkage in the gum ridge affecting the proper placement of the denture, even weight gain or loss can have an effect on your dentures fitting correctly. It’s important that dentures fit properly at all times so bacteria doesn’t get in between the denture and gum and cause other potential health hazards to your gums and bone.

Patients who are getting dentures for the first time have many questions. Perhaps the most common they ask is how dentures will affect eating and drinking. The first thing to know is that there is going to be an adjustment period where consuming the foods you’re used to enjoying may be a challenge at first. But it’s like anything else, you’ll get used to having dentures in your mouth and you will be able to pick up your usual routines once again.

Starting Out

When you first get your dentures, your mouth is going through some acclimation. You should chew much more carefully than you used to, as chewing too hard could break the denture. You could experience some new taste and feeling sensations, as the inside of your mouth adapts to the dentures as you perform usual actions like chewing and speaking.

Careful Eating

Always go slow as you eat. In the first few weeks you should choose only softer foods and cut your food into small, bite-size pieces that are easy to chew. Biting your food is also going to require some adjustment, try not to bite with your front teeth but the canines instead. Doing so could cause gum irritation as the dentures get dislodged from their position in your mouth. Chewing slowly will also help you avoid catching the inside of your cheek by mistake, causing pain or discomfort.

Second Nature

Over time, your dentures won’t feel like some foreign object in your mouth but a natural substitute for your real teeth. Eating will become less difficult but you should still practice caution as you eat harder foods. You should still try to avoid anything with bones or shells so you don’t break your denture and refrain from drinking anything too hot or cold. Coffee can also stain dentures and gum should be avoided altogether due to its stickiness. Nuts and seeds are also a bad idea since they could get stuck under the denture and cause redness or soreness to the mouth.

Cleaning Your Dentures

Keeping the dentures clean is a top priority to keep harmful bacteria from infecting your mouth. You must take them out each day and brush them thoroughly, just as you would natural teeth. Be sure to soak them overnight in your preferred cleaning solution to keep them fresh and clean, this all prevents them from drying out which can damage the appliances.